YuLin Zhen, Photography Editor

Yale New Haven Health is among the first healthcare systems in the country to transport critically ill patients using the Medtronic VitalFlow ECMO System, a more compact and portable life-support device for those suffering from heart and lung failure.

In December, YNHH integrated the newly FDA-approved Medtronic VitalFlow ECMO System and first used it to transfer a patient from Greenwich Hospital. The technology allows patients in need of long-term cardiac and respiratory support to be transported between hospitals with greater ease, improving access to advanced care.

“We’re hoping that this system allows the hospital systems and the clinicians and these clinical ECMO teams to think differently about how they provide that care,” said Dr. Karim Bandali, president of Cardiac surgery at Medtronic.

ECMO — or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation — is a form of life support that functions as an artificial heart and lung for patients experiencing severe cardiac and respiratory failure. Traditionally, ECMO systems were approved for short-term use of up to six hours. The VitalFlow ECMO System, however, is the first device to receive FDA approval for longer-term applications.

Unlike traditional ECMO devices, which are often cumbersome and require extensive setup, the Medtronic VitalFlow ECMO System, which was released last September, is designed for mobility. Its modular design allows for seamless transitions between hospital settings and ambulances, ensuring that critically ill patients receive uninterrupted life support.

“Everything comes off the cart and can be placed on the bed, making transport much easier,” David Hafler, a neurologist and professor at the School of Medicine, told the News.

According to Bandali, one of the goals when developing the VitalFlow ECMO system was to make it accessible and intuitive to use, especially by clinicians in different fields, including respiratory therapists, pulmonologists, perfusionists and cardiologists.

The VitalFlow ECMO system is also unique because of its durability. Bandali explained that clinicians need to be confident about how long the ECMO system can support a patient. The VitalFlow system was designed to give these clinicians certainty that the ECMO would reliably last up to 14 days for problems with the lungs and 5 to 7 days for problems with the heart.

Bandali also emphasized that this technology is designed not as a permanent fix but as a bridge — either giving a patient’s heart and lungs time to heal or serving as a temporary measure before a transplant or other life-saving intervention.

YNHH played a role in the system’s early implementation, working closely with Medtronic engineers to refine the technology. The hospital is among a handful of centers nationwide using the device, with its deployment extending to out-of-hospital settings. 

David Springer, senior perfusionist at YNHH, highlighted the new system’s advantages.

“We decided to move to this device because it was readily available, it was financially feasible, it was compact and concise and it’s got excellent data management tools and utilization,” Springer said.

Training and education were key factors in rolling out the system. 

YNHH’s ECMO team includes 12 perfusionists and 14 ECMO specialists, all of whom underwent rigorous training to ensure proficiency in using the VitalFlow system. The hospital’s critical care transport team also collaborated with perfusionists to streamline transport protocols. 

Beyond its immediate benefits, the VitalFlow ECMO System holds promise for future applications, including pediatric ECMO transport. The hospital has begun integrating the technology into its pediatric program, with plans to expand its use for critical care cases for infants and adolescents.

Currently, ECMO systems are only used as a backup in severe conditions when initial treatment has failed. 

However, Bandali believes that implementing VitalFlow can help ECMO systems be used for a broader range of applications, from protective therapy to early intervention. He also believes VitalFlow can help treat patients with esophageal cancer, high-risk ventricular tachycardia and burn patients.

The VitalFlow ECMO system was launched on Sept. 26, 2024.